Posted by: McQ on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 I had the occasion to attend a mini-reunion of some of my old friends from the Army. About 12 of us gathered at a restaurant in Birmingham to tell stories about each other and absent comrades and remark about how old we were all looking. Anyway, it was nice to see them all again. As a tribute to all our veterans today, I'd like to dust off one I did a few years ago to veterans everywhere. And I'd also ask that if you know a veteran, of any era of service, go up to him or her and thank them. Such a gesture is worth its weight in gold.
But not all sacrifices are made on the field of battle. While infantry, armor and artillery are the combat arms - the tip of the spear - they, better than anyone, know how important the team that makes up the rest of the spear are to their success on the battlefield. Those F-16s don't show up on target at the right time unless that kid flying the boom of a KC10 tanker at 30,000 feet at 2am doesn't do his job. That sabot round from an M1A1 fired at a threatening T72 isn't there unless the truck driver hauling ammo day in and day out gets that ammo where it needs to be when it needs to be there. Veterans are the guys like the cook who gets up every morning at 3:30 am and begins to prepare breakfast for his guys and gals. The kid below decks on an aircraft carrier who makes sure the F/A 18 he's responsible for maintaining is in perfect shape and ready to fly. The nurse who holds a dying soldier's hand as he takes his last breath, wipes away her tears, straightens her uniform and heads out to do it again. He's the kid in the fuel soaked coveralls who hasn't slept in 2 days gassing up another Bradley from his fuel tanker. The company clerk who makes sure all of the promotion orders are correct and in on time, or the instructor in basic training who ensures those he trains get his full attention and who puts his all into helping them learn important lessons that will save their lives. He's the recruiter who'd rather be where the action is, but does what is necessary to make sure he gets the best and brightest available for his branch of service. Or the MP at the gate who shows up every day, does her job to the best of her ability and never complains. Most vets have never seen combat in the sense we think of it. But every single solitary one of them has contributed in vital ways to the success of our combat efforts. Without those who support the combat troops, success would impossible. Without the wrench turners, truck drivers, fuel handlers, cooks, clerks and all those like them, the greatest military the world has ever seen is an "also ran." It doesn't matter what a vet did during his or her service, it matters that he or she chose to serve and do whatever vital job they were assigned to the best of their ability. It isn't about medals, it isn't about glory, it isn't about what they did. It is about the fact that when their country called, they stood up and answered. They are all, every one of them, heroes. To all the vets out there - Happy Veteran's Day. And thank you for your service. |
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